Humanitarian

Humanitarian Assistance Projects

HCS Group is proud to support the US Sponsored Humanitarian Assistance Program and Power Africa.

The Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) mission is to improve the capacity of partner nations to respond to humanitarian crisis. The projects include providing technical aid and facilitating the construction of shelters, disaster relief warehouses, clinics, schools, bridges, roadways, etc.

Power Africa consists of a team of technical experts, legal experts, and governments from around the globe to provide access to power for remote areas of Africa. The program was started in 2013 with a goal to add 30,000 megawatts of clean, efficient electricity to rural Africa.

Featured Project

Isolated Grid Optimization/Feasibility StudiesTanzania and Democratic Republic of the CongoClient: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Construction Cost –

HCS Group, as part of a larger team, provided support services to contribute to several work streams that are part of USAID/Tanzania’s Power Africa program. Power Africa brings together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments from around the globe to work in a partnership to increase access to power in rural areas. Their goals are to: (1) Minimize technical and commercial losses; (2) Improve power sector planning; and (3) Promote investment in generation (Small Power Producers), especially in clean energy.

TANESCO operates 18 isolated grids (i.e. mini-grids not connected with TANESCO’s main grid) throughout Tanzania with a total generation capacity of 82 MW. Some 16 of these grids are supplied electricity from diesel generators while two of the grids generate power from natural gas (Somanga and Mtwara). Four of the isolated grids are being connected to the main grid through the Makambako-Songea transmission line project that is under construction, and that will leave only 14 isolated grids operated by TANESCO not connected to main grid. TANESCO’s ultimate objective with respect to isolated grids is to interconnect all of the remaining isolated grids to the main network in order to reduce the cost of operation.

Tanzania Scope: HCS Group’s task was to review the technical operation of each isolated grid regarding generation, transmission, and distribution. An evaluation of the principal assets including generator sets, substations, transformers, and transmission and distribution lines, including conductors was done in each location. Projected Solar Energy assets were studied, outlined and presented for a cleaner energy platform in these areas.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Scope: HCS Group was tasked with preparing a study on potential mini-grid projects in the provinces of North and South Kivu located in the eastern DRC. The study encompassed transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution, and examined power supply options such as import from Rwanda and local hydropower and new solar resources.